FF: High Winds

FF: High Winds

Andy Lindenberg, one of my Allegion coworkers, sent me today’s Fixed-it Friday photos from a university that has an obvious wind condition. This door has a spring-cush arm on the closer, a heavy duty overhead stop, and a chain stop. Do you have any better ideas? Maybe a closer body with AVB – Advanced Variable Backcheck, which allows the cushioning effect of backcheck to begin earlier in the opening cycle?

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It looks like there is a continuous hinge on this door, maybe because the wind tore of the old butt hinges?
It still seems like all those stops that close to the hinge side of the door are putting a lot of stress on the hinge side. I would like to see some kind of a floor or post stop at the outer edge of the door. I am not sure if there is a such thing as a spring floor stop, new product? (Allegion can contact me for royalties later)

I can’t find any data on the actual weight of FRP doors, but the name brand manufacturer loves to advertise how lightweight they are. Maybe take the lite kit out and add as many small rocks inside as you can to weigh it down some? Other options that are more expensive – replace with a HM door or replace glass with lead-lined glass. 🙂

That’s all if a heavier door would help which I’m not certain of. It would help keep it from swinging around in lighter breezes, but in a heavier gust it’d probably still have the same problem except now it’s tweaking all the hardware with a lot more force.

I wonder if standard hinges over a continuous would help, at least there is some air flow on the hinge side that way.

Lori – I used to use a 4110 x ST887 x GJ90S (I believe there was a SP for GJ but my mind is not that good. I like this application much better than the cush by itself. You could also add Advanced Back Check. I like that this opening is a Special Lite Door with continuous hinge.

How about an architectural barrier like a screen wall…positioned to stop the wind from hitting the door full force. These are common on rest stops and other buildings that have high wind exposure. Not everything can be fixed with hardware.

Is there a reason the door cannot open past 90 degrees? If it can then replace the closer with a standard EDA parallel arm and reinstall it so the door will open as far as it can. Install a floor stop if needed to stop the door before it hits its maximum opening point.

It would help to see the doors exterior location with it closed and open to help understand swing ect?
Is it a roof door?? Loading doc ect?
It looks like the closer is pretty old? What is the date stamp on it? Is it an LCN clone? That spring adjuster has been out of production for a while, more than 15 years for sure!
It may need repair or replacement if the back check was cranked up on it may have blown a seal?
Also if you relocate the chain stop away from the hinge side of the door it will be more effective.
The Ives brand comes with a chain cover to prevent it from scratching the door and yes it will be seen through the window but it should do the job.
Last I would find a way to put a positive stop outside somewhere possibly a concrete pillar or something that will withstand the test of time.
Good luck and Upgrade that closer to a new LCN 4111 Spring Cush.

John, when I look up at a closer that looks like the ever so popular LCN, I look for the UL number (listed on arm and the spring tube label of closer) and the end plug, if it’s a “REAL DEAL” it should say 320G.

as for that tension adjuster (3/4 inch nut) LCN used that style up until about 2000-01. it just may be possible this is the old style that was sitting in the box until needed (NOS) and then installed or just never had any dust or weather effecting the paint on body or label

In high wind in New Mexico and Arizona areas they would place a bollard behind the door when it was at 95 deg opening. The bollard would have a stop applied to it. This work well out in the Southwest where they do have STRONG WINDS!! I can only find per-assembled units from the UK. They call them Door Restrainers. See web link.